School Resumes.

Thursday, August 21 was the first day of school. With this comes some changes in our houshold. Ones I actually like. I love the lazy days of summer, but I also like the routine that the school year brings.

Earlier bedtimes.

Exhausted children.

Planned meals.

A daily schedule.

A greater sense of organization.

When a new school year resumes, without fail, I travel memory lane. Here we go.

Justin is a 4th grader. I vividly remember 4th grade. Mrs. Donaldson. Meanest teacher I ever had. I don't remember specific things I learned that year at Smoke Rise Elementary, but I do remember that the work load was more intense, the books were bigger and there was a whole lot to remember. I also remember things about that teacher. She was rude and loud and definitely didn't teach b/c she loved it! I remember her stapling notes to kids jeans pockets ( i thought this was horrific) and always making you feel less than adequate. I do remember my friends. I remember that was the year I got my ears pierced. I remember that boys and girls started liking each other.

Mitchel is a 3rd grader. For me that was Mrs. Middlebrooks. My first African American teacher and man did I love her. She made me nervous at first, she was loud and had a vocabulary of words I had never heard before. Pass meant go. As in when we were lined up to go down the hall she would say Pass. I reemmber that I memorized the Preamble to the Constitution that year ( I can still recite it ) and we learned a ton about Back History. I was Phyllis Wheatley in a play. She had high expectations and I learned a lot. I was also a favorite in the class along with my friend Shannon and we got to do all sorts of fun things. Clean out her closets. Decorate her bulletin boards. Oh, and we had pizza parties. She would order pizza and sneak it in the back door. It was cool.

Ashley is a first grader. In the first grade I had Ms. Bennett. I know that I loved her. She taught me how to read. She had this fabulous place for reading in her room. It was like a train car - a huge rectangle made out of wood, up on casters or something b/c I know it didn't just sit on the floor. It was open only on one side and it was filled with cushions and pillows. That is about all I remember. My mom liked her too. She even baby-sat for my family when my parents went to Mexico for a week. We stayed in touch with her for several years.

On the first day I took the kids to school. Normally they ride the bus, but I decided to drop them off. They sucked in their pride and let their mama photograph the big day. They found comfort in the fact that the Pollard girls (neighborhood and ward friends) were in a similar predicament - their mama had her camera too!







School starting back, means this mama is back at work as well. I opted out of the photo! I am happy to be on board with our district this year as an actual speech therapist with a provisional contract. The real deal contract won't be had until I am all done with grad. school, but I am inching my way there day by day and am loving it.

Jenny.

Jenny and Elli have come and gone. My heart felt such gladness as soon as Jenny and I embraced and I held that sweet little Elli - the little girl I had only seen in pictures. Did you know you could fall instantly in love with someone? Well, you can. I held that little girl. The daughter of such a dear friend and I'm tellin' ya, I was in love.

Our visit was perfect. I love how good friends just pick up where they leave off as if no time at all has passed. We dove right into the nachos and cookies and hours of talking and laughing. It was absolutely wonderful. Every minute. Good-byes are always hard. Especially when you never know when next time will be. But I will savor the memories of a perfect visit with a perfect friend.

Ashley was instantly in heaven with Jenny and Elli here. She loved having a little sister for the week and she loved that little girl's mama even more! Jenny fixed Ashley up with all things girly. Jenny did Ashley's nails, complete with flowers. We made beaded bracelets and hair bows. Ashley soaked up every minute. Jenny even let Ash do her hair as well as Elli's - Ashley's talent is amazing. We know.






We mostly just spent the days doing nothing. And the nothing felt good. We just hung out and talked. We did manage to go to the zoo and treat ourselves to yummy shaved ice a few times. And when kids were retired to bed and Josh was on a 2 day hiking/camping trip, we indulged in card making until the wee hours of the morning. Lovely that was.




Did I mention that we were all in love with having a little girl in the house for a week?




Jenny and Elli - we love you! Thanks for choosing to spend a week in our chaos filled home. We loved every minute of being with you both.

Company. Part 3.

Now it is Saturday. I am giddy with excitement about our next guest. Our bestest friend from South D. is coming. Jenny. and her baby Elliana. She no longer lives in South D., but that is where we met. She now lives in Phoenix. I saw her briefly on my visit to AZ last year. Before that we saw her at her wedding in October 2005. So, its kind of been a while since we've had a lengthy visit with this girl we love so much.

Its one of those friendships that we can't even remember how it all began. All we can remember is asking her to babysit one night back in 2002 and we've been friends ever since. Sure we remember that she graduated from BYU-I and came to South Dakota to go to dental hygiene school b/c her family lived there. We remember that her parents then moved to AZ and she was left in that place that is no place for single girls. There just weren't options for boyfriends or friends for that matter. So she settled for us and the rest is history.

We hung out every weekend for 2 years. She was the first person that found a way to Mitchel's heart. The first person that could actually relieve me from my non-stop duty with him! We seemed to just click, our family and her. She wasn't just my friend. She was Josh's friend. The kids friend (and second mom). We laughed and ate and talked. For 2 years. We seriously did so much together. She was always there with her smile helping with the kids, helping me in the kitchen, listening to Josh talk about something I am sure she didn't really care about, but she listened. Cause that is just the kind of person she is. She thinks we were this tremendous blessing in her life. We know she was a tremendous blessing in ours. It was just a friendship meant to be. One of those relationships that enrich my life.

Occasionally I let too much time pass without calling. I then fear that it will be awkward and our friendship will dwindle. But one of us will call. We'll chat for as long as possible. And all will be right in the world. We've just got that connection. And I love it. In-person visits do amazing things for friendships in my opinion. So, with much anticipation I look forward to an entire week together where we can catch up and bond and eat and laugh. She is definitely good company.

Company. Part 2.

On Thursday, one of Josh's brothers came for a visit. Joey, his wife Rachel and their almost one year old daughter Avery. It has been almost 2 years since we have seen them. We may be 10 years older than they are and in a different phase of life but we still benefit from a relationship with each other.

Lately I have been thinking a lot about relationships and how each one is unique and of value to me. You don't have to have everything in common with the person/couple/family, be the same age, have all the same interests or do things the same way. The relationship still has significance and edifies my life. Teaches me things, makes me laugh, makes me a better person, allows me to give love and feel love in return. I love the fact that I have all sorts of relationships that make me happy. I also know that I need to work hard at keeping relationships and doing things to strengthen them. I only have 2 siblings and no sisters so it is quite fun for me to develop relationships with Josh's siblings. I love the relationships I am developing with the wives of Josh's brothers, namely Kaley and Rachel. I finally have sisters and I love it.

It too was a short visit, just barely 24 hours, but we had such a nice time. Waterslide in the backyard. Ping-Pong at the hangar. Nachos and Wii. Kids in love with baby Avery. Lots of catching up. Hard goodbyes. We love you guys.

Company. Part 1.

company |ˈkəmpənē|
* the fact or condition of being with another or others, esp. in a way that provides friendship and enjoyment
* a person or people seen as a source of such friendship and enjoyment

I love having company. Love that we finally have room to have company. Comfortably. Love the fact that people want to visit us.

Love visiting and just being with friends and family that we don't see all too often.

This past Monday some friends from Sioux Falls came. The Buchanans. They just came for an evening. Dinner and visiting. Kids played on the waterslide and shot some hoops. I didn't take a single picture. I was just enjoying catching up with them. And on all the happenings and people in Sioux Falls. I love that friends are friends, even when you move away. Thanks guys for taking the time to stop by and visit us.

New Look.

I am in love with Ashley's new look. I love the way it frames her face. Makes her look like the first grader she's about to be.

She kind of fancies it herself. She loves tucking it behind her ears. Moving her head and have it swish back and forth. Looking in the mirror several times a day. Asking me if it can always stay like this. Thanks Aunt Rachel!

Hair Cut.

Ashley was in need of a hair cut. Or more truthfully said, I wanted her to have a cut. A new look. Something to make her look more grown up. I've been debating for months on cutting it off to a bob. The last time we cut it I had her take off 5 inches or so, but it was still "long".

Joey and Rachel came for a visit and I knew who I could ask. Rachel. Hair is what she does and I always like what I've seen her do. I asked her what she thought. She said it would look great and she would do it the next morning. Ashley was totally willing b/c it was Rachel. When the scissors came out I was a teeny bit fearful that I may not like it. But, its hair. It grows. And I was trusting Rachel.

She brought out the scissors and went to town.




Drying it and making some final snips.



Ashley's hug of approval after she looked at herself in the mirror.